Is Kershaw cooling?

I wouldn’t worry about the classics going away anytime soon. After some quick searching I’ve found new versions of the Leek, knockout, blur, scallion and a Launch 8 All in Damascus. But what’s tempting me the most from Kershaw ATM is the HOB 20CV titanium Leek. Liner lock, reverse tanto… idk tho, it’s not a lot of knife (physically) for the money.
Anyone have one?
View attachment 1902967
50/50 chance I’ll buy this one. I have a few leeks, in different colors, 1 CF, but this titanium might make it feel a little more hefty
 
Just a quick little shot of my OD-1. I carried this one for about 6 months last year. When I first got it I wasn't too hot on the design but it grew on me a lot and is a fantastic knife. It's a Lee Williams design and has his kickstop flipper mechanism. The kickstop is really sweet because you have a flipper, yet when the knife's open there's no flipper tab sticking out to get in your way when you choke up on the knife. It also makes the action torquey similar to when a mountain bike is in a higher gear. The blade rotates a lot further than you're actually moving the flipper tab. I experimented with adding a thumbstud and ended up loving it.
Edit: I just noticed the date on the tang. Looks like I got it in 09'. I BELIEVE that this is still a Sandvik 13c26 blade then. They switched to 14c28n very soon after this and started lazering that on the tang.
13dtEJp.jpg
 
K.O.D. said:
I've often felt the losing Ken Onion as a collaborator was a detriment to both Ken and Kershaw. Ken Onions designs (and Brian Tighe's for that matter) are wasted with a company like CRKT. The Onion designs pretty much launched ZT.

I also feel Kershaw has invested too much in the Chinese manufactured models. Investing as in too much money spent on the collaborations as well as offering too large a variety of models. They should have done like Spyderco--offer a few Chinese budget models, but mostly Japan/US/Taiwan.

Personally, I'd like to see a restructuring of the company:

ZT: Overbuilt tanks like they originally were
Kershaw: Broad spectrum of budget and higher end (basically take over much of the ZT line)
Launch: Have it become its own brand
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midnight flyer said:
I can't believe it; I had forgotten all about that. They had some real entertaining fun when they got on board with that one.

I don't recall exactly what the first one was but I do remember that I was sucked in completely!
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How cool was that! I was not a full fledged knife nut at that time, so I missed those fun advertising things.
 
tony281sc2 said:
I wouldn’t worry about the classics going away anytime soon. After some quick searching I’ve found new versions of the Leek, knockout, blur, scallion and a Launch 8 All in Damascus. But what’s tempting me the most from Kershaw ATM is the HOB 20CV titanium Leek. Liner lock, reverse tanto… idk tho, it’s not a lot of knife (physically) for the money.
Anyone have one?
View attachment 1902967
50/50 chance I’ll buy this one. I have a few leeks, in different colors, 1 CF, but this titanium might make it feel a little more hefty
Click to expand...
If you want “hefty” save some money and go with the standard stainless steel scales. I love them but they make the Leek a little heftier (heavier) than my small Senenza with titanium scales.
 
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tony281sc2 said:
I wouldn’t worry about the classics going away anytime soon. After some quick searching I’ve found new versions of the Leek, knockout, blur, scallion and a Launch 8 All in Damascus. But what’s tempting me the most from Kershaw ATM is the HOB 20CV titanium Leek. Liner lock, reverse tanto… idk tho, it’s not a lot of knife (physically) for the money.
Anyone have one?
View attachment 1902967
50/50 chance I’ll buy this one. I have a few leeks, in different colors, 1 CF, but this titanium might make it feel a little more hefty
Click to expand...
tony281sc2 said:
I wouldn’t worry about the classics going away anytime soon. After some quick searching I’ve found new versions of the Leek, knockout, blur, scallion and a Launch 8 All in Damascus. But what’s tempting me the most from Kershaw ATM is the HOB 20CV titanium Leek. Liner lock, reverse tanto… idk tho, it’s not a lot of knife (physically) for the money.
Anyone have one?
View attachment 1902967
50/50 chance I’ll buy this one. I have a few leeks, in different colors, 1 CF, but this titanium might make it feel a little more hefty
Click to expand...
I love mine and yes it's definitely hefty compared to a regular Leek. It also seems like the assisted spring is heavier also. It opens with some force. Buy it, it's well worth the money.
20220814_141239.jpg20220814_141229.jpg
 
I would say that Kershaw is as good as ever if you look at their classic models. However, they really lean into making a million models of futuristic looking knives with crap steel. It is like they are trying to sell to the person who wants to upgrade from a gas station knife to a "real" knife. I dont like most of the Kershaws.
 
I recently got the Highball XL exclusive from, if memory serves, SMKW. I find it to be a very nice medium-ish framelock with titanium scales, a solid deep carry pocket clip, awesome clip point blade with fuller, S35VN, pivot running on bearings which make for fantastic drop shut action. It carries really easy and slender in the pocket. I'm liking it a lot. It's really the only release as of late that interested me. But I'd recommend it to anyone thinking about getting one.
 
CVamberbonehead said:
I would say that Kershaw is as good as ever if you look at their classic models.
Click to expand...
I think there’s something to this. I recently bought the gray camo/gray-washed Leek FSS because…well, because it was a knife and I wasn’t out of checks, amiright?

Anyway, that Leek is the best of all my Aalliaceae family of knives in terms of fit and finish. I had the yellow Random Leek FSS for a bit too, and it was a fine specimen of a Leek.

I’m not sure if it’s due to the FSS series or not, but the US made Kershaws seem to be as good as they’ve ever been.

Oh, my BladeHQ 20CV Skyline is about the best flipper of all the Skylines too.
 
I think part of it is that Kershaw, like Benchmade, Sog, and CRKT, get a large portion of their sales from big box sporting good stores. That is why they have so many inexpensive made in China models for the non-enthusiast that need a knife. People who often just replace the knife when it gets dull.

Even when I go to gun stores, I mostly see Kershaw, Benchmade, and a few other. My lgs is Benchmade and oddly, Microtech.

People know the names and assume they are getting a good product. I wish some of their cheapo offerings came in a USA made version in a PM steel.

I feel like Spyderco has always been a little more niche. They offer a broad range for every budget and need while offering plenty for the enthusiasts.
 
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